--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it not improbable that man, like…" description: "\"I think it not improbable that man, like the grub that prepares a chamber for the winged thing it never has seen but is to be - that man may have cosmi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr-1986_chamber_i-think-it-not-improbable-that-man-like_1208937.png" --- # I think it not improbable that man, like the grub that… ![“I think it not improbable that man, like the grub that prepares a chamber for the winged thing it never has seen but is to be - that man may have cosmic destinies that he does not understand.” quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr-1986_chamber_i-think-it-not-improbable-that-man-like_1208937.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr-1986_chamber_i-think-it-not-improbable-that-man-like_1208937.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr-1986_chamber_i-think-it-not-improbable-that-man-like_1208937.png) > “I think it not improbable that man, like the grub that prepares a chamber for the winged thing it never has seen but is to be - that man may have cosmic destinies that he does not understand.” [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human understanding is limited; we may be destined for vast, unknown purposes beyond our perception. **In simple terms:** People may have unknown, grand destinies. Key Takeaway Stay humble and open to mystery. Themes humility destiny knowledge uncertainty Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - scientific research - spiritual exploration - leadership decisions Key Concepts philosophy cosmology future studies Questions to Reflect On - What unknown purposes might guide your choices? - How does recognizing limited knowledge affect ambition? A Different Perspective Our actions shape outcomes we cannot foresee. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chamber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chamber/) [Cosmic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cosmic/) [Cosmic Destinies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cosmic-destinies-3656035/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Improbable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improbable/) [Improbable Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improbable-man-3656034/) [Man Cosmic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-cosmic-1848486/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Seen Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seen-man-260591/) [Think Improbable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-improbable-1174006/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Anything you want to do is possible; fear is not meant to prevent but to motivate your heart into the life you naturally think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stone/anything-you-want-to-do-is-possible-fear-is-not-meant-to-prevent-but/) [Craig Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stone/) > [the universe is under the control of a loving purpose, and that in the struggle for righteousness man has cosmic companionship (angels). 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I have never seen a man as fond of virtue as of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-have-never-seen-a-man-as-fond-of-virtue-as-of-women/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I've been everywhere in the world, seen everything, had everything a man can have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-ve-been-everywhere-in-the-world-seen-everything-had-everything-a/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We have not yet seen what man can make of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/we-have-not-yet-seen-what-man-can-make-of-man/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [“He's got \_go\_, anyhow.' Certainly, he's got go,' said Gudrun. 'In fact I've never seen a man that showed signs of so much. 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The man who is seen, but cannot see? Or the man who is not being seen, but can see?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-ruth/who-is-richer-the-man-who-is-seen-but-cannot-see-or-the-man-who-is/) [Babe Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-ruth/) > [“It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or seen. Every man’s a child until he’s a father. It’s the way the world’s made.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-abraham/it-doesn-t-matter-what-you-ve-done-or-seen-every-man-s-a-child-until/) [Daniel Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-abraham/) > [I have never seen a man lost who was on a straight path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/i-have-never-seen-a-man-lost-who-was-on-a-straight-path/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man's hand is not able to taste, his tongue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-eye-of-man-hath-not-heard-the-ear-of-man-hath-not-seen-man-s-hand/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [Blood is a destiny. One's genius descends in the stream from long lines of ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/blood-is-a-destiny-one-s-genius-descends-in-the-stream-from-long/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [If you don't know what you want, you will probably never get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/if-you-don-t-know-what-you-want-you-will-probably-never-get-it/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [Any two philosophers can tell each other all they know in two hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/any-two-philosophers-can-tell-each-other-all-they-know-in-two-hours/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It is mere childishness to expect men to believe as their fathers did; that is, if they have any minds of their own. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/it-is-mere-childishness-to-expect-men-to-believe-as-their-fathers-did/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [Longevity is having a chronic disease - and taking care of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/longevity-is-having-a-chronic-disease-and-taking-care-of-it/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [As for the excellent little wretches who grow up in what they are taught, with never a scruple or a query, ... they signify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/as-for-the-excellent-little-wretches-who-grow-up-in-what-they-are/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [On every stem, on every leaf,... and at the root of everything that grew, was a professional specialist in the shape of grub, caterpillar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/on-every-stem-on-every-leaf-and-at-the-root-of-everything-that-grew/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [Three generations of imbeciles are enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/three-generations-of-imbeciles-are-enough/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [A good soldier, like a good horse, cannot be of a bad color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/a-good-soldier-like-a-good-horse-cannot-be-of-a-bad-color/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [Free competition is worth more to society than it costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/free-competition-is-worth-more-to-society-than-it-costs/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [Systems die; instincts remain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/systems-die-instincts-remain/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [In my opinion, economists and sociologists are the people to whom we ought to turn more than we do for instruction in the grounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/in-my-opinion-economists-and-sociologists-are-the-people-to-whom-we/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [The great end of being is to harmonize man with the order of things, and the church has been a good pitch-pipe, and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/the-great-end-of-being-is-to-harmonize-man-with-the-order-of-things/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [Between two groups of people who want to make inconsistent kinds of worlds, I see no remedy but force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/between-two-groups-of-people-who-want-to-make-inconsistent-kinds-of/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) [Explore all 193 Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) ## More Chamber quotes > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I'm a storyteller - that's my chamber, that's my box. I'm always tryin' to give you the best story from our side of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-m-a-storyteller-that-s-my-chamber-that-s-my-box-i-m-always-tryin-to/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [If we believe in the rebirth of our civilization... then clearly this renaissance must begin in the chambers of our own hearts... We cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-feuerstein/if-we-believe-in-the-rebirth-of-our-civilization-then-clearly-this/) [Georg Feuerstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-feuerstein/) > [Tyranny sets up its own echo-chamber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/tyranny-sets-up-its-own-echo-chamber/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [We should look at the Twitter records of Andrew Fraser. 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Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [Helen Crawfurd and the Women's Peace Crusade, made a march on the City Chambers, distributing an illegal leaflet in front of police and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-gallacher/helen-crawfurd-and-the-women-s-peace-crusade-made-a-march-on-the-city/) [Willie Gallacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-gallacher/) > [Every Senator in this Chamber is partly responsible for sending 50,000 young Americans to an early grave. This Chamber reeks of blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/every-senator-in-this-chamber-is-partly-responsible-for-sending-50/) [George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/) > [A successful current affairs television show seems to be more and more a cross between a music hall turn and a scene in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/a-successful-current-affairs-television-show-seems-to-be-more-and/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) > [This is like playing Russian roulette with a Luger rather than a revolver. One bullet, one chamber - and we're pulling the trigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/this-is-like-playing-russian-roulette-with-a-luger-rather-than-a/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [ It was at Harvard not quite forty years ago that I went into an anechoic \[totally silent\] chamber not expecting in that silent room… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/it-was-at-harvard-not-quite-forty-years-ago-that-i-went-into-an/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [The torture and other sadistic abuses of prisoners in Iraq have done immense damage already to America's reputation in the world, and the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/the-torture-and-other-sadistic-abuses-of-prisoners-in-iraq-have-done/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [Oft in the silence of the night, When the lonely moon rides high, When wintry winds are whistling, And we hear the owl's shrill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/oft-in-the-silence-of-the-night-when-the-lonely-moon-rides-high-when/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Before I went to bed, I sat up till 2 a-clock in my chamber, reading of Mr. Hooke's Microscopical Observations, the most ingenious book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/before-i-went-to-bed-i-sat-up-till-2-a-clock-in-my-chamber-reading-of/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) [Browse all 365 Chamber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chamber/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think it not improbable that man, like the grub that prepares a chamber for the winged thing it never has seen but is to be - that man may have cosmic destinies that he does not understand.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/i-think-it-not-improbable-that-man-like-the-grub-that-prepares-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chamber" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/i-think-it-not-improbable-that-man-like-the-grub-that-prepares-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr-1986_chamber_i-think-it-not-improbable-that-man-like_1208937.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr-1986_chamber_i-think-it-not-improbable-that-man-like_1208937.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr-1986_chamber_i-think-it-not-improbable-that-man-like_1208937.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think it not improbable that man, like the grub that prepares a chamber for the winged thing it never has…” — Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think it not improbable that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/i-think-it-not-improbable-that-man-like-the-grub-that-prepares-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/i-think-it-not-improbable-that-man-like-the-grub-that-prepares-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```